Drogba looks on the bright side

26 June 2010 08:50

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Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba did not dwell on his side's ill fortune after their World Cup campaign came to an end.

The African side bowed out of the tournament with a hollow 3-0 victory over North Korea in their final Group G game after they had already earned a creditable draw against Portugal in their first game before a 3-1 loss to Brazil.

Drogba said: "To be able to play against Brazil and Portugal, two of the best countries in the world, is like a dream for our country. We were unlucky but at the same time really happy to have played those nations."

He added: "If we were in a better group maybe we would have gone through, you never know.

"I think we were unlucky both times but for a country like Ivory Coast to be in the World Cup twice is fantastic, knowing that we have never been there before."

Ivory Coast went into Friday's clash at the Mbombela Stadium with a theoretical chance of reaching the last 16. To do that they needed wins for both themselves and Brazil against Portugal by a combined total of nine clear goals.

They had 14 shots in a one-sided first half, 10 on target, and scored through Yaya Toure and Romaric.

They were unable to maintain the same intensity after the break as North Korea went defensive in a damage-limitation exercise and had to settle for just one more Salomon Kalou strike.

Drogba added: "Our World Cup is over but I think we can be proud of what we did against Portugal and what we did against Brazil, even though we lost.

"We are disappointed but at the same time we can't be too disappointed from a group like this with Portugal and Brazil."